Farmers and forest landowners will want to plan ahead and sign up early for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation funding. Josh Odekirk, NRCS Acting State Conservationist in Wisconsin, announced that farmers and forest landowners interested in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) producer contracts need to apply by May 17, 2024, for the second round of funding in fiscal year 2024.
USDA recognizes the need to be inclusive of all people and ensure equitable access to services. Increased financial assistance for conservation practices, dedicated conservation funding, and access to advance payments for conservation practice implementation are being offered to socially disadvantaged groups, as identified by NRCS.
Although NRCS accepts applications year-round at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin, applications received after May 17, 2024 will automatically be deferred to the next funding cycle, so interested producers are encouraged to apply now.
